Drought-hit Britain heads for worst cereal harvest in four decades
Analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says hot, dry weather could cut cereal and oilseed output by 2.5 million tonnes and cost farmers £390 million.
- Britain's 2026 cereal harvest is on track to be the worst since 1984, according to an analysis published Wednesday, with projections reaching 19.5 million tonnes.
- Record-Breaking heatwaves in May and June, followed by the driest July on record for England and Wales, triggered crop decline; farmers described the pattern as 'weather whiplash.'
- The exceptionally hot and dry conditions slashed the harvest by 2.5 million tonnes, costing farmers up to £390 million. Wheat yields averaged 6.8 tonnes per hectare, well below the 10-year average, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board .
- Earlier this week, the National Farmers' Union warned Britain could face food shortages and called for tax breaks to improve water storage. Last week, more than 100 organizations urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prioritize food security.
- Tom Lancaster, a land, food, and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit , warned of a "climate doom loop" as the green and pleasant land transforms into a parched landscape; four of the five worst harvests since 1984 have occurred this decade.
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29 Articles
6 Ways This Hot Summer Has Put A Strain On The UK Way Of Living
Dried vegetation is seen surrounding the All Saints church in Blackheath, London, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, as the hot and very dry weather continues for most parts of the UK.This summer of heatwaves has made the climate crisis impossible to avoid for most Brits as temperatures continue to break records.Andy Burnham’s government has pledged to help bring down the cost of living, but ministers have been remarkably quiet over the consequences of this…
When the water disappeared from the taps in Whitstable, it became a harbinger of a future that experts have long warned about: a Britain that is not built for the climate that is coming.
Record heat and drought in Britain have caused significant damage to wheat, barley, and other cereal crops. This could impact costs and, in turn, prices for the beer and whisky industries.
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